The Ohio State men’s and women’s basketball teams plan to open their seasons on the same night and at the same site — the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in Charleston, S.C.

A contract has been signed for the women’s team to play Notre Dame on Nov. 9 in the Carrier Classic, according to Mike Whalen, founder and managing partner of the nonprofit Morale Entertainment Foundation, the event promoter.

An agreement to match the Ohio State men the same night against Marquette, also on the deck of the USS Yorktown, is close to being completed, said Miechelle Willis, an executive associate athletic director at Ohio State who oversees both basketball programs.

“Our legal counsel has the contract and is looking over it. I’m pretty confident it’s a go,” she said.

The games will be televised by ESPN networks, Willis added. ESPN.com first reported yesterday that Ohio State and Marquette were negotiating to play the game.

The Carrier Classic made its debut last season when the Michigan State and North Carolina men squared off aboard the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego. This will be the first such women’s game promoted by Morale Entertainment, which conducts overseas tours for American armed forces.

“Between 17 and 27 percent of troops are female. We want to make sure (women) get recognized” by the event, Whalen said.

Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw is a former assistant to Ohio State coach Jim Foster, who ordinarily eschews games against friends. But Foster, a Vietnam veteran, said, “We just couldn’t let that get in the way of such a great opportunity for these young kids.

“You want to give your student-athletes as many experiences as you can. This one was a no-brainer. It’s a tremendous opportunity.”

The (Charleston) Post and Courier first reported in March that Connecticut had committed to play in the men’s game, but an agreement was not reached. The Ohio State men’s team entered the picture, apparently, after a conversation between Whalen and Foster.

“Legally, I can’t say anything because we’re in the middle of contract stuff,” Whalen said, “but your instincts (of the Ohio State men playing in the event) are correct. Let me just say there will be a lot of red in Charleston.”

An announcement is expected in June.

The Ohio State men had been scheduled to open their season on Nov. 9 at home against Albany as part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tipoff tournament. That game will be moved to Nov. 11, Willis said.

“Obviously, we are excited,” men’s coach Thad Matta said. “This is a rare opportunity for our student-athletes. We are honored to play before the men and women who protect our country.”

Portable seating will be built on the carrier to accommodate about 4,000 spectators, The Post and Courier reported.